BlackBerry is about offering choice, and as such, many of these devices are already available in a variety of colors. For example, the BlackBerry Passport has had Limited Edition Red and Limited Edition Black and Gold devices in some regions, and is available in white in many others.

Earlier this week, we announced that the BlackBerry 10.3.1 OS update has started rolling out to BlackBerry 10 devices, which means that BlackBerry 10 users will have more ways to discover and download apps and games with access to two app stores.

In addition to BlackBerry World, the Amazon Appstore comes preloaded with this update, giving you access to hundreds of thousands of apps for work and play.

With BlackBerry World covering your work-life, visit the Amazon Appstore to choose from a huge selection of popular Android apps and games to enjoy in your downtime, including faves like Candy Crush Saga, Pinterest, Amazon Shopping, Kindle, and more. Plus, get a paid app for free every day. App availability and compatibility may vary by device and software version.

BlackBerry Guardian will scan all apps and games from BlackBerry World and the Amazon Appstore for software that is known as having the potential to be harmful before installing, alerting you of possible threats to device security.

Visit the Amazon Appstore on the Home screen of your BlackBerry 10 device to get started.

The Red BlackBerry Passport is the perfect color for the productive mobile professional who values power, performance and style. The color makes a vivid statement and this Valentine’s Day, it’s the perfect way to show your appreciation for someone special in your life and help them Work Wide.

Is the red too flashy? No worries. We’ve extended the sale to the black and white versions of the BlackBerry Passport too, so check out ShopBlackBerry.com to get your favorite BlackBerry Passport.

For those of you who are not familiar, the BlackBerry Passport is a device purpose-built for productivity-driven business professionals who want a smartphone that empowers them with the mobile tools they need to get things done. Featuring a large square touch screen and new touch-enabled keyboard, the BlackBerry Passport comes preloaded with new productivity-enhancing features including BlackBerry Blend and BlackBerry Assistant, as well as the BlackBerry World storefront and Amazon Appstore, offering access to the very best apps for work and play.

]]>http://blogs.blackberry.com/2015/02/valentines-passport-offer/feed/2valentines-featured imagemelmassonvalentines-day_banner_blogBlackBerry Passport and BlackBerry Z3 Smartphones Win a 2015 iF DESIGN AWARDhttp://blogs.blackberry.com/2015/01/blackberry-passport-blackberry-z3-win-if-design-award/
http://blogs.blackberry.com/2015/01/blackberry-passport-blackberry-z3-win-if-design-award/#commentsThu, 29 Jan 2015 14:26:21 +0000http://blogs.blackberry.com/?p=24371/ Read More]]>The BlackBerry Passport and BlackBerry Z3 smartphones were honored with the iF DESIGN AWARD 2015, and are among the winners of the renowned iF label.

For over 60 years, the iF DESIGN AWARD has been recognized around the world as a label of design excellence, and the iF logo is an internationally established symbol identifying outstanding achievements in design.

The international high-profile jury assessed almost 5,000 entries from 53 countries in order to determine who would receive this coveted seal of excellence.

We asked Brian Paschke, Senior Industrial Designer, to provide some background on the team’s approach to designing these two award-winning devices.

BlackBerry Passport
”Inspired by the passport, a universal symbol of mobility, the BlackBerry Passport is perfect for traveling light. To continually evolve, the BlackBerry Passport leverages our strength and heritage, yet is new and innovative. The touch-sensitive keypad affords an efficient typing experience, blending the digital and the physical. To enhance the experience, we used the typeface Slate in the same size and color for the physical and onscreen keys. The stainless steel frame, inspired by modern architecture, is exposed to celebrate durability and visual lightness. The display glass is shaped and polished to perfection, fully integrating into the overall form.”

BlackBerry Z3 – Minimal Design, Maximum Content
“Built with precision, the BlackBerry Z3 makes the BlackBerry 10 experience accessible to all in a 5” form factor. With a modern and minimal design, it is the perfect balance of utility and elegance. It shares a similar construction to the BlackBerry Passport, holding all elements together in unity. The result is a product that looks and feels slim, yet is highly durable. Audio ports are precision-drilled by a laser to have a unified look with the rear pattern. The alignment between all details and display create a composition that reflects harmony, clarity, and care.”

Our award-winning smartphones will be featured in one of three subsequent special shows in the iF design exhibition Hamburg. The iF design exhibition is located in the very center of Hamburg’s HafenCity, the go-to place for those with a special interest in design and architecture.

It’s clear that the iF DESIGN AWARD jury aren’t the only ones impressed by these devices. Check out what others think about the BlackBerry Passport and BlackBerry Z3.

Earlier this week, PayPal announced their new app (above) that lets you do things like quickly send and request money, check your balance, and see recent activity while on the go.

You can locate and redeem offers at participating businesses and check-in to pay at your some of your favorite places that accept PayPal. You can even manage your digital wallet (below!).

The app runs today on BlackBerry 10 devices including the Q10, Z10, and BlackBerry Classic in the U.S., UK and Australia. PayPal will be adding support for other regions very soon. Check with their blog for updates.

It’s the latest of our recent cooperative work with PayPal. Several months ago, we introduced a new financing option on ShopBlackBerry called PayPal Credit to help lower the upfront costs of buying a BlackBerry Passport or Classic.

]]>http://blogs.blackberry.com/2015/01/paypal-app-for-blackberry-10/feed/0paypal1melmassonpaypal1paypal3BBM 2.0 Now Available for Windows Phone Usershttp://blogs.blackberry.com/2014/12/bbm2-0-windows-phone/
http://blogs.blackberry.com/2014/12/bbm2-0-windows-phone/#commentsMon, 15 Dec 2014 14:53:50 +0000http://blogs.blackberry.com/?p=23716/ Read More]]>
Great news! Starting today, Windows Phone users are getting several new BBM features, offering them new ways to chat and share with more privacy and control over their communications.

The Windows Phone BBM update introduces privacy and control features including timed messages and message retraction. Now with access to the BBM Shop, users can liven up their Windows Phone BBM chats by purchasing and using BBM Stickers.

Don and I sat down to chat about all that BBM 2.0 has to offer. Check out the videos for the details:

BBM Shop with Stickers

Users can now chat with larger, bolder and more expressive images than emoticons. It makes the BBM experience more engaging and fun. You can also personalize your chats with colleagues, family, friends, peers and partners.

Timed Messages:

By setting a timer, you can control how long your contacts can view the BBM messages and pictures you share with them. The message is hidden until the recipient touches and holds on the chat. Then, once the timer has expired (or if the recipient takes their finger off the screen), the message is no longer visible. The user will receive a notification if BBM detects that the recipient has taken a screenshot of the image or message.

Message Retraction:

Users can now retract their message to remove it from their BBM chat, either before it has been read by the recipient or after it has been read so that it is no longer visible within the BBM chat.

Update your BBM today and let us know what you think of BBM 2.0 for Windows Phone in the comments.

Haven’t shared your excitement yet or want to send another message so you can be part of the BlackBerry Classic launch? Just visit BlackBerry.com/INeedMyBB and click ‘Add Me’ to tell us why you need your BlackBerry. Don’t forget to use the #INeedMyBB and/or #BlackBerryClassic hashtags.

There’s so much excitement for the BlackBerry Classic, and we want you to continue to be part of it. Be sure to check back frequently to see why others need their BlackBerry and why they can’t wait for the BlackBerry Classic.

September is one of my favorite times of year here in Canada. Not only is it the unofficial start to the autumn season, but more importantly, it’s the time of year the red carpets are rolled out and the celebs come to Toronto.

The Toronto International Film Festival has become the launching pad for the best of international, Hollywood and Canadian cinema and is widely recognized as the most important film festival in the world.

No worries. There’s no time like the present. Be sure to check out the features in the original blog post, as well as this video with Donny Halliwell and Jeff Gadway that walks through the BBM experience on Windows Phone.

Now, go download BBM for Windows Phone and be set for the weekend. Don’t forget to add your friends. To see which ones are on BBM go to “Suggestions” on the “invites” tab within the app and start adding.

If you’ve been following the season then you’ll know that the MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team is having a great time so far, and as driver Nico Rosberg points out “to succeed, you need the right team behind you.”

The team not only uses BlackBerry to connect with their fans on their BBM Channel, but to also connect with their race team.

We recently caught up with Nico to talk more about how he and the MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS Team use BlackBerry.

“The whole team is using BlackBerry. We do BBM chats a lot between the engineers…at night I’ll be in the hotel and think about something and write them straight away and they get it. It’s an awesome way to communicate,” Nico says.

To say “professionals use every second to their advantage” is an understatement for Nico and the MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS Formula One team. We’ll be rooting for them at the Canadian race this weekend, and wish them the best of luck for a strong 2014 season finish.

You can follow along with the team and their success on their BBM Channel (C00011785).

Good news Team BlackBerry, the new Twitter app for BlackBerry 10 is being released today*. If you’re brand new to Twitter or an old pro, the updates in Twitter 10.2.1 are designed to heighten your Twitter experience. The personalized trends feature in this newest update is perfect for finding new people to follow and new conversations to be a part of.

Check out the list of key new Twitter app features below and be sure to stop by the BlackBerry World storefront on your BlackBerry 10 smartphone to download the updated app.

New Twitter App Features:

View, Create and Subscribe to Lists - Lists are an easy way to keep track of accounts that Tweet about subjects relevant to your interests. You can now view, create, subscribe, and edit Twitter lists from your BlackBerry 10 smartphone.

Enhanced personalization and recommendations – You can now see trends based on personal interests and location. When you search for a topic in the trends section, the app is designed to show you people to follow based on the topic and conversations around the topic. You can also see trends for a particular location (eg. Canada, US, Cape Town, etc.).

See more photos - Scroll through tweeted images in the photo image gallery.

Learn about even more fascinating people when you visit profiles. The app now showcases other cool accounts to follow based on the person’s profile you’re viewing.

New icon indicates tweets with video

DM message status in the app now syncs across all your devices and Twitter accounts.

View recent Tweets in an Active Frame (while the Twitter app is minimized on the Home screen).

Twitter version 10.2.1 is available globally for handsets running BlackBerry 10 version 10.0 or higher. *Please note that it can take up to 24 hours for releases of new app versions to appear on BlackBerry World.

What better way to spend the summer than with the BlackBerry Q10 and BlackBerry Z10. The #KeepMovingTour is traveling across Canada to give you quality hands on time with BlackBerry 10. To make sure you don’t miss the opportunity to swing by and say hi, we’ll be keeping the below list of locations and events updated. Be sure to share your #KeepMovingTour pictures and experiences with us on Twitter.

Have you caught up with the #KeepMovingTour yet? If you have, what did you think of BlackBerry 10?

OCTOBER

]]>http://blogs.blackberry.com/2013/06/the-blackberry-10-keepmovingtour-hits-the-streets-of-canada-this-summer/feed/0melmassonBlackBerry Keep Moving TourBlackBerry and the MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS Team hit the streets of Montreal at the Canadian Grand Prixhttp://blogs.blackberry.com/2013/06/blackberry-mercedes-amg-petronas-canadian-grand-prix-montreal/
http://blogs.blackberry.com/2013/06/blackberry-mercedes-amg-petronas-canadian-grand-prix-montreal/#commentsFri, 21 Jun 2013 16:57:58 +0000http://blogs.blackberry.com/?p=17276/ Read More]]>Less than a month ago the MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS team took the stage at BlackBerry Live 2013 to help introduce BBM Channels. We caught up with them in Montreal for the Canadian Grand Prix and asked blogger, and huge BlackBerry fan, Carl Edwin-Michel, to partner with us as our guest blogger for the weekend.

Be sure to join us for the British Grand Prix in Silverstone June 28-30. Have you been following the team? What race has been your favorite so far? Share in the comments below.

]]>http://blogs.blackberry.com/2013/06/blackberry-mercedes-amg-petronas-canadian-grand-prix-montreal/feed/0melmassonTour of the BlackBerry Booth in the BlackBerry Live Showcasehttp://blogs.blackberry.com/2013/05/bblive-blackberry-booth/
http://blogs.blackberry.com/2013/05/bblive-blackberry-booth/#commentsWed, 15 May 2013 17:31:56 +0000http://blogs.blackberry.com/?p=17009/ Read More]]>

Greetings from #BBLive 2013. Hope you’re all having as much fun as we are. This year’s schedule is definitely keeping us busy – so many can’t-miss sessions. If you haven’t already made your way to the BlackBerry Booth, you’ll want to head over and check it out before you leave.

One of the highlights of the BlackBerry Live conference (the amazing keynote, aside) is the BlackBerry booth in the conference showcase. This year is no exception. We’re showing off the best that BlackBerry has to offer, devices, accessories and even the QNX Bentley show-car and special demo vehicle from our partners on the MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS team.

I had the chance to check it all out this week at BlackBerry Live, so check out the quick video below and see for yourself:

You can find more info by following @BlackBerry, @BlackBerry4Biz and @BlackBerryDev on Twitter and as always, stay tuned here for updates and the latest info. Were you attending BlackBerry Live this year? What were your favorite parts of the BlackBerry Booth? Let us know in the comments.

I love accessories. Period! It doesn’t really matter if we’re talking shoes, watches, curtains, throw pillows, or garden gnomes, I love them all and my technology is no exception. I’ve recently started using a BlackBerry Q10 and I have really enjoyed choosing my accessories. I get the feeling everyone else does too. The accessory booth is hopping here at BlackBerry Live with people itching to get their hands on this incredible line up of accessories that have been designed specifically for the BlackBerry Q10 smartphone.

If you’re anything like me, seeing that ‘R’ in a delivered BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) message is like colour to my eyes (see what I did there?). I am obsessed with knowing that my messages have been delivered, read and when they’re being responded to.

Today, BlackBerry takes BBM to the next level with BBM Channels
extending the BBM experience to brands, artists, businesses and communities, you will now be able to connect with individuals and groups in real time. Stay up to date on your favorite things. Receive timely updates and participate by commenting on, liking and sharing posts. Or choose to express yourself and create a channel of your own – and create, edit & publish in an instant.Starting today, BBM customers can connect and share the MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team on their BBM Channels.

Top BBM Channels Features:

Create a channel – Create, edit and publish in an instant, and there are no limits to the number of followers you can have in your channel. Securely manage your channel from either a BlackBerry smartphone or the web.

Discover channels – BBM Channels includes a carousel that lets you discover new channels. You can share channel invites within a BBM chat, and people can be added or invited using the channel’s PIN or QR code.

View – View profiles for each BBM Channel you choose to follow.

Subscribe – Subscribing to a channel allows the channel owner to send you timely and relevant updates, giving the subscriber instant access to your news, deals, events or whatever you want to communicate. Subscribers can choose to receive notifications when new posts are available.

Participate – Participate and engage in conversations with your favorite people or communities by “Commenting” and “Liking” posts from channels you subscribe to. Channel owners have the option to directly chat one-on-one with a subscriber.

Today, BlackBerry also announced plans to bring BBM to iOS® and Android™ users this summer. BlackBerry expects that iOS and Android users will also be able to experience BBM Channels later this year, subject to approval by the Apple App Store and Google Play.

BBM with BBM Channels is now available in beta for BlackBerry 10 smartphones, as well as BlackBerry smartphones running BlackBerry 5 OS through 7.1. For BlackBerry OS customers*, BBM Channels is part of the new BBM version 8, which also offers enhanced navigation tools, with tabbed viewing for quick and easy access to contacts, chats, groups, recent updates and BBM Channels. Furthermore, it allows the option to share your enhanced profile information with BBM contacts or within invitations. The beta releases can be downloaded for free on BlackBerry Beta Zone**. Customers can sign up to BlackBerry Beta Zone for free at www.BlackBerry.com/betazone. For more information about BBM, please visit www.blackberry.com/bbm.

*BBM requires a BlackBerry service plan on BlackBerry smartphones running BlackBerry OS.
**BlackBerry Beta Zone is not available in all markets.

UPDATE 09/03/2013:
We are excited to announce that our ten innovative and inspiring women have been selected for scholarships. You can learn about these women of the future and the BlackBerry Scholars Program by visiting www.BlackBerry.com/scholars. And don’t forget to tell us about the women who inspire you in the comments below. — D.H.

Every day, women around the world are helping to lead, transform and innovate in the fields of technology and science. BlackBerry and Alicia Keys want to celebrate these leaders and help encourage young women to explore the opportunities presented in the STEM fields.

This morning, BlackBerry and Alicia Keys have announced the creation of the BlackBerry Scholars Program, a scholarship program designed to inspire women to enter fields of study that will shape the future of technology and mobile computing.

Starting today, women around the world entering four-year degree programs in accredited colleges and universities in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math with an interest and/or aptitude in the mobile computing space are encouraged to submit their application nominations for scholars for the 2013 school year.

The BlackBerry Scholars Program will provide full, four-year tuition scholarships to outstanding women globally who are seeking degrees at accredited colleges and universities in the areas of STEM with a particular interest or aptitude in the area of mobile computing. This scholarship program is the first step in BlackBerry’s long-term commitment and multi-tiered strategy to engage young women at every step of their education from high school to college, and as they rise through the workforce.

Applications for the 2013 school year will be accepted online only and will be due by 5pm EDT on June 26, 2013. To learn more about the “BlackBerry Scholars” Program and the nomination and application process, please visit www.BlackBerry.com/scholars .

We’re excited to launch the 2013 BlackBerry #BBLive Contest! Every day during the week of April 22nd at 11 a.m. ET, we will be tweeting a question from @BlackBerry to give you an opportunity to win* a Full Conference Pass to BlackBerry Live 2013. The conference will be kicking off just over a month from today and will take place in Orlando from May 14-16.

The BlackBerry Live conference is our biggest event of the year, and this year we’re taking it to a whole new level. We launched BlackBerry 10 and BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 earlier this year, and BlackBerry Live is the ultimate opportunity for you to get hands on experience with the new platform, connect with the BlackBerry business community and experts, and learn about all the exciting developments ahead.

Stay tuned to @BlackBerry on Twitter and make sure to use the hashtag #BBLive to participate in the contest. In addition, take a look at the BlackBerry Live Session Catalog Preview to start considering which sessions you may want to attend. We look forward to seeing you in Orlando!

]]>http://blogs.blackberry.com/2013/04/blackberry-live-conference-pass-contest/feed/0melmassonIs that the new BlackBerry Z10? Can I see it?http://blogs.blackberry.com/2013/03/five-questions-blackberry-z10/
http://blogs.blackberry.com/2013/03/five-questions-blackberry-z10/#commentsMon, 25 Mar 2013 20:44:56 +0000http://blogs.blackberry.com/?p=16484/ Read More]]>

I’ve been seen out in public using my BlackBerry Z10 for a while now, and I’ve noticed a trend with my friends, family, strangers on the street—and really anyone who notices me using my smartphone. Everyone wants to test it out. When I was in New York City last week for the U.S. launch, I was even stopped in a restaurant and asked about it.

Here are the most common reactions and questions when giving my BlackBerry Z10 a test drive:

“Wow. The screen is bigger than I pictured and the device feels comfortable in my hand.”

When people get their hands on my BlackBerry Z10, they almost always mention how natural the peek gesture feels when first learning how to navigate through the device. I think many don’t realize how easy it is to truly use this device with one hand.

“Can I test the Time Shift camera?”

I LOVE showing people this feature in greater detail. Many people are shocked to learn that not only can you shift the image of the person’s face, but also on the larger picture too. A lot of my friends have small children, and the general consensus is the BlackBerry Z10 has the best camera for capturing photos of their wiggly little kids.

“Is BBM Video Chat and screen sharing as seamless to use as I saw during the live launch?”

“It sure is,” is how I respond to this question. I typically call fellow Community Manager, Donny to showcase this one. He’s always good for a screen share that features his dog, George.

“Does the keyboard actually learn how you type?”

I love showing off this feature, primarily because it’s very clear this keyboard is already used to my typing patterns. For example, when typing that I’m laughing I always use “ha ha”. So when I type ‘ha’ the suggestion above the “H” is almost always a repeat of ‘ha’. I like to laugh, what can I say?

“What do you think about having all of your messages in one spot? Is it distracting?”

I think people have seen what the BlackBerry Hub can do, but I’ve started wondering how people feel about having literally every message being listed in one area. Many people don’t realize you can pick and choose which accounts are brought into the BlackBerry Hub. It’s also great to see the look on their faces when they see that you can sort by account too. It’s Always a great crowd pleaser.

Movie fans, rejoice – this is a big weekend for you. With all eyes on the Hollywood film industry, where will you be tuning in on Sunday night to see who walks home with an award? (Topical: in case you missed it earlier this week, we talked about which BlackBerry apps we would turn into feature films!)

If I could assign a trophy for “best gadget,” it would undoubtedly go to my new BlackBerry Z10. I’m having so much fun with it, and like a lot of you, I enjoy using my BlackBerry device to BBM, tweet and download apps while I’m watching TV. This Sunday will be no exception. With movies on the brain, I wanted to share great apps, wallpapers and music that play into the glamour of this annual event.

I kicked off the award show weekend early by listening to the Academy Studio Orchestra soundtrack. It includes lots of songs from this year’s Best Picture contenders. Next, I downloaded the Popup for IMDb app for quick access to info on actors, directors and movies. Even a film buff like me gets rusty on her trivia! On Sunday afternoon, I’ll start checking out the trending topics on my Twitter app so I can start taking part in the conversation – from the red carpet to the after-parties.

What will you be doing Sunday night? If you’re looking for new media, check out BlackBerry World before the big event. And don’t forget to leave us a comment to tell us what you found!